The Clifton clarion., 1887-03-16
UNDOUBTEDLY TRUE
STORIES ABOUT sERPENTs.
Brief Paragraphs Cleaned from the Newspapers, on their Habits and PecuIiari-
 ties.
CHASED BY SNAKES.

CHASED BY SNAKES.
 The Weston (Mo.) Democrat says that one day recently, while ''Dock" Hopkins was engaged in cutting briars near Washburn's run, two or three miles above town, he discovered three black snakes lying close to- gether, their snakeships discovering him at the same time. The doctor fled. the snakes pursuing him so rapidly that he WAS forced to turn and fight. He succeeded in laying them out with his scythe, and upon exami- nation they were found 10 be of the species known as the "blacE racer" It is said they can overtake the swiitest runner. The three were placed at full length, touching each other, and measured iorty-two feet.
 SNAKES IN AN EXPRESS CAR.
 \ box marked on all sides "snakes" was shipped from Chippewa, Wis, to Reading, Pa, by express. The messenge. thought there was some thing valUablein the box and tum bled it around like q regular baggage 1uashcr. h performing this act the top ot the box came off, and out crawled ten poisonous snakes that took quarters among the express packages. The messenger fled. locked the door, and at the next town bought all the chloroiorm to be found, threw it around in the ear, and the result was ten comatose snakes put back in the box. which was securely nailed. That messenger will handle snake boxes more care fully hereafter.
 BT THE SKIN OF HIS TEETH.
 The first snake story of the season comes to us from Henderson. It was q race between fleet footed dog and I black snake. The dog chased the snake three quarters of q mile down q lane. Tt is q long lane that never turns" and the snake appeared in good spirits. Just at the end of the lane the snake made a sud len turn, and found its hole under the bottom rail. The snake went down the hole head first, when the dog seized it by its tail. The snake was prepared for the emergency, and gave up it's out side covering or skin, which peeled off as easily as the skin of q roasted potato.-L Haw!linsville Dispatch.
 A THRILLING ENCOUNTER WITH SNAKES.
 Benjamin and George Brigel, of RobesOnia Furnaces, killed two snakes the other day on the South Mountain. When the reptiles were first seen they ran up an old chest nut tree and entered long, hollow limb. An axe was procured and the tree cut down. When the tree fell hoth snakes ran out Of the hollow limb. \ desperate struggle followed, but both were killed. One of them measured 10 feet , inches and the nther feet 6 inches in length. The largest weighed l9 pounds. In the scutiie the huge monster coiled itself about the legs oi Benjamin. and no doubt would have got the best oi him lad his brother not, coming to his rescue, cIIt it in two with the axe.- Heading (Pa.l Times.
 THE sERPENr's WORST ENEMY.
 You have no idea of the number of snakes annually killed by the now ing machine, until you talk with different farmers on the subject. In former years bits of snake would be continually falling from forks oi newly cured grass or from the hay in the stack or mow during the winter. when it was being fed. The moving machine Is peculiarly iItal to them. In their accredited wisdom they do not start to run away until the evi- dence of danger is upon them. They then raise their heads just high enough to reach above the blades, when they are decapitated quicker than an active partisan under civil service nonsense, and the change is so sudden that the body of the snake doubtless springs high enough to again meet the blades ere the fatal knives pass completely oyer- iCouniy Farmer.
 EXPERIMENTING WITH SNAKES.
 Dr. l. L. Beatty is experimenting with the reptile tribe. He came in the possession of q very large one the other day, but the reptile could not stay in his place of abode with ease and comfort, so departed this life. He lived but q day. He also had one that was coried tightly in bottle. This proved disagreeable to the reptile, causing his death in q few days. He has HOW left q small garter-sndke, which has been in d glass jar since the Dist of April, and doing well. This reptile has in this time freed himself of his old skin once. It has been stated by men who have cXp'rimentcd with reptiles that they will live in tightly corked glass jars as well as in the open air for years without eating. The doctor desires 10 prove or disryovc this statement.-..N Nashville American.
 WITH \ LAME IN ITS MOUTH.
 A snake such as was never seen before in the region of Starrucca, Pa. was killed q few days ago by Jav Webb and Constable Vim. Wilmarth. of Thompson, SusqUehanna County, near that place. Tine snake is nine feet long ana seven inches in diame- ter, with a peculiar flat head. Around the neck is q circle of short. ftitf hairs. Tine color of the serpent is brown, with red bands about the body at intervals of q few inches. The snake was discovered on James Fosters farm by Mrs. Webb. Mrs. Vale, and Mrs. Thompson, who were gathering greens. It was lying at the foot of q small hedge, and had newly born lamb about half swal- lowed. The frightened women ran to Webb's house and told him wha. they had seen. Webb and Wilmarth went to the spot, and, finding the snake helpless from gorging, killed 1t with q fence-stake. They dragged it home, and it now hangs on Webb's barn door, an object of much wonder s